Chapter 34 : Bounty


    Wilhelm then continued to provide Noah with insights into this interesting player known as Straight and his part in the battle. The more he revealed, the more Noah seemed to be fascinated.


    "So, let me get this straight, pun might be intended. A level 30 player, managed to create chaos in the midst of a battle between higher-level opponents, most of whom were around level 50 or so?"


    Wilhelm nodded, confirming Noah''s understanding. "That''s correct. It''s not just the level difference that''s impressive, it''s the skill with which Straight executed his actions…"


    In most scenarios of lower levelled players, level disparities of that magnitude would often result in a swift defeat for the lower-level player. Yet Straight had not only survived but thrived in such a scenario.


    "Tell me more about his tactics," Noah pressed, looking eager to dissect the situation from the points of an outsider.


    Wilhelm brought up a holographic display that showcased a view of the battlefield where Straight had made his mark. "From what I could gather, Straight utilized hit-and-run tactics with exceptional strats. He seemed to prioritize eliminating high value targets, such as healers and spellcasters, before swiftly retreating from the frontlines."


    Noah zoomed in closer to examine the holographic representation, "Did he have any distinct abilities or skills that set him apart?"


    "...While I don''t have a comprehensive list of his skills, it''s clear that Straight''s proficiency in combat is extraordinary. He not only excelled in close combat by using his spear, but he also had some set of skills that had powerful elemental attributes. As if he was a mage…” Wilhelm considered the question for a moment before responding.


    “Still, he appears to have a deep understanding of his class and a mastery of his abilities as he used them efficiently. And looks like this made him able to engage his opponents with ease, even in the face of numerical disadvantages."


    Noah nodded his head. In the realm of New World, mastery of one''s character class and abilities was often the key to success. By knowing when or where to land the corresponding strikes, that would be the best moment to deal damage.


    "And his combat style is interesting honestly," Wilhelm continued.


    "As a spearman, he seemed to uniquely possess both melee and ranged capabilities, granting him versatility in combat. This might explain his ability to engage opponents at different ranges effectively. Either it was because of his class, getting some rare scrolls that gave skills, or he had a powerful item. Might be some. But dang, very powerful player in a nutshell."


    "I see… Hmmm… Then what about his motivations? Why would a player like Straight involve himself in the affairs of two powerful guilds?" Noah inquired with a little smile, looking to be happy for some reason.


    Wilhelm''s holographic display changed to show a virtual forum post related to Straight that he had saved. "There''s no concrete information on his motivations, but there''s speculation among players. Some believe that Straight may have a personal vendetta or a hidden agenda. Others think he''s simply a mercenary, willing to take on any job for the right price. Or he was just trying to get some wealth from the bounties and drops."


    In the complex landscape of New World, players often had multifaceted reasons for their actions. Understanding Straight''s motivations could be crucial if one was to be impacted by his actions. And Wilhelm understood that Noah asked this question could be related to this.


    "Regardless of his motivations, such individuals would be valuable allies, eh…” Noah spoke as he entangled his fingers.


    Wilhelm nodded in agreement. "I concur. However, approaching Straight will require careful diplomacy. Given his actions, he might be cautious about forming alliances."


    Noah grinned. "Well... Such man''s thinking would be hard to understand, probably. It would take a lot to even reel him to one''s side. You seem to be very interested in him. Are you sure that you can get in contact with him, or, even put him into our side?"


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    Wilhelm''s visage mirrored Noah''s seemingly intrigued face. "We can only try, I guess. We''ll gather information on Straight, understand his background, and find a way to contact him. With him on our side, our path to influence in the New World will become clearer."


    “And there was another thing as well. This dang spearman was able to defeat the commander of that Wreaking Havoc, Onyxium in that battle. I don’t intend to brag, just to prove a point but even me, at that level, would be a little bit hard pressed to defeat him…"


    Wilhelm then explained how the battle went on and his revelations about Straight''s pivotal role in the battle against Onyxium, the commander of Wreaking Havoc, left Noah both astonished and intrigued, judging from his exaggerated expression.


    "... You''re telling me that Straight defeated Onyxium despite being at a lower level and facing Onyxium''s forces, at the same time?" Noah sought confirmation, needing to ensure that what Wilhelm said was correct.


    Wilhelm nodded solemnly. "Yes, that''s the consensus among players who witnessed the event. Onyxium''s defeat sent shockwaves throughout the corresponding area."


    “I see…” Noah had a surprised expression on his face. Battles between guilds and high-profile players were common in New World, but the circumstances surrounding Onyxium''s demise were truly extraordinary.


    "What led to their encounter?" Noah inquired, his curiosity piqued. "Did they have a prior history, or was it a random skirmish?"


    Wilhelm leaned back on his chair with a sigh, organizing his thoughts. "There''s no concrete information about their history or what triggered their clash. Some players speculate that it might have been a chance encounter in the midst of the battle. Others suggest that there might be deeper reasons, possibly related to in-game politics or territory disputes."


    Noah nodded his head as if he was happy for Straight that his purpose remained a mystery.


    Wilhelm could tell that Noah was trying to take this information seriously. The New World was a vast and complex virtual society with its own power struggles and rivalries, after all. Having knowledge of some key players would be crucial in a lot of cases.


    "Tell me a bit more about Onyxium," Noah urged. "What do we know about him, other than his role as the commander in that battle?"


    Wilhelm activated a holographic interface, displaying information about Onyxium. "Onyxium was renowned for being a Paladin, an advanced class of the Warrior path. He was known for his being one of the main forces within that guild and his impressive combat skills."


    Noah observed the displayed attributes and achievements of Onyxium. It was clear that the commander was a formidable figure within this area.


    "Paladins are known for their durability, support abilities, and some powerful skills right." Noah noted. "Defeating one in combat is no small feat, especially for a player like Straight, huh?"


    Wilhelm nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Paladins are often considered one of the toughest classes to take down due to their defensive capabilities. Straight''s victory over Onyxium speaks volumes about his combat prowess, right… Am I tripping or somehow your head looks a bit bigger than before?"


    "Must be your imagination. Anyway, do we know anything about what happened after Onyxium''s defeat?" Noah asked, looking eager for more details.


    Wilhelm brought up a timeline of events following Onyxium''s demise. "After Onyxium fell, chaos erupted within Wreaking Havoc. Some members questioned the guild''s capabilities, while small sums defected to other guilds. The situation truly made the Wreaking Havoc in havoc." WIlhelm laughed a little.


    “The aftermath of Onyxium''s defeat had left Wreaking Havoc a little bit vulnerable, and rival guilds were likely capitalizing on the situation. And naturally, bounties were put over Straight''s head. Especially from Wreaking Havoc…” Wilhelm added with a low voice.


    "So, both Wreaking Havoc and Valiant Wave have put bounties on Straight, huh. Well that makes sense, considering the disruption he caused."


    “Yes, but there''s a significant difference between the bounties they''ve offered. Wreaking Havoc has placed a much higher reward on Straight. A huge sum of it. Likely out of vengeance and the desire to reclaim their lost image.” Wilhelm added as his expression became thoughtful.


    “Valiant Wave, on the other hand, has a lower bounty, indicating a more measured response. Even though Valiant Members suffered too from Straight''s assault, they seemed to not suffer a lot. Especially regarding prestige.... Now that I mentioned prestige, that guy probably used the two guild''s battle as a stepping stone, dang."


    "But what about the other mercenaries you mentioned?" Noah asked with raised eyebrow.


    "There are indeed others in the game who hunt down members of both Wreaking Havoc and Valiant Wave for bounties. It''s become a sort of ''gold rush'', with players looking to profit from the turmoil. But their impact was not as massive as that Straight, so yea… Same treatment, but it''s like the sky and the earth."


    Wilhelm leaned forward on the table, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "I''ve been thinking about this spearman, and I believe we should reach out to Straight. We can offer our support, and maybe propose a partnership. We could seriously form a formidable team. But honestly, he probably has a background already.


    Can we even reach out to him after all, huh.


    Anyway, let''s do some raids or something first. Let me see how you fare in fights and battles. I can guide you to become better."